Don't want to splurge on a new designer bag in the store but also don't want to risk buying a fake online? Many retailers claim to sell inexpensive, pre-owned luxury items but often these products turn out to be counterfeit. If you are a vendor, many times you will be whopped with a large listing fee. Fei Deyle was obsessed Hervè Lèger and became an expert authenticator, eventually starting a blog selling the designer's clothing. Soon, she was sought out to authenticate her readers' items. This lead her to create Lollipuff, the only online auction site that pre-screens items to guarantee the authenticity of high-end, pre-owned designer goods. Combining beauty and brains (a MC must) Lollipuff uses a patent-pending authentication process and software to screen luxury goods. Even better, they charge a low, flat rate for you to list your Louboutin pumps, Balenciaga bags, and Chanel clutches, compared with other sites that charge 30 - 60 percent. That means more bang for your buck.

We spoke with Fei about some authenticating tips that we can use for our favorite items. See if you can spot the differences.

Photo: Courtesy of Fei Deyle

Hervè Lèger:

• The Hervè Lèger dress on the left is authentic.

• On the fake gray Hervè Lèger dress, you can see that all bands used for construction are the same width.

• Most counterfeit Hervè Lèger have a thick heavy fabric like real Hervè Lèger, but the fit and stretch is very different.

• Tags should inspected as well as the overall design of the Hervè Lèger dress.

• People may attach authentic Hervè Lèger tags to a fake dress.

Photo: Courtesy of Fei Deyle

Christian Louboutin:

• The Christian Louboutin shoes on the left are counterfit.

• First, Christian Louboutin boxes are made of a dense hard cardboard. The box in the background of the left photograph looks flimsy and is creased in several spots. This is not common for authentic Louboutins.

• The lining on the inside of the fake shoe is crude and thick.

• It is common for counterfeiters to place heel taps in a plastic zip bag.

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